Campus energy savings effort reaches $575,000

Students, staff, and faculty all contributing

UMass Dartmouth faculty, staff, and students -- answering the call of Chancellor Jean F.McCormack to accelerate campus energy savings efforts -- have saved $575,000 in the first nine months of the fiscal year.

Look for the net results of these savings on the Energy Savings Thermometer at the head of campus and on university's home page at www.umassd.edu.

The campus community continues to work towards reaching our energy savings goals. The continued assistance by the community, ideas and notification of trouble areas -- "too hot" and "too cold" -- are very much appreciated by the Facilities Department.

Among the energy conservation strategies being used: lowering of campus thermostats, closing of the campus for two weeks over the holidays, and turning off lights and power-using devices when not in use.

The campus is also working on ways to make campus energy systems more efficient and is examining longer term strategies such as bio-mass and wind power.